Cold weather and the danger it poses to your heart

AccuWeather

Dr. Keith Churchwell of the American Heart Association speaks with AccuWeather about the dangers of cold weather, which includes the health risks of snow shoveling.

Transcript

00:00Dr. Keith Churchwell is the volunteer president

00:02for the American Heart Association.

00:04Thanks so much for joining us, Dr. Churchwell.

00:06As we make our way deeper into this winter season,

00:10we know those frigid temperatures,

00:11they can bring serious health risks to many.

00:13So what are some of those dangers

00:15and what is important for people to remember?

00:18That's a great question and good morning to everybody.

00:20You know, I've spent the last few days outside

00:24during the morning and afternoon

00:25and was reminded to a great degree,

00:28the amount of physical stress and emotional stress

00:31that frigid weather brings to the body and to the heart.

00:34It's like having a high-grade stress test

00:35every time you walk out the door.

00:38You know, the body compensates

00:39by increasing your blood pressure and heart rate,

00:43and that can actually have a significant increase

00:44in the amount of stress on the heart and on the body.

00:46Also, blood vessels tend to constrict actually in the cold,

00:49and especially not only the blood vessels throughout the body

00:52but also the vessels that feed the heart.

00:54So if you have any significant blockage

00:56or a history of heart disease,

00:58that can lead to symptoms and also to events

01:00in the midst of actually in the cold.

01:04And along with the cold is the snow in many states.

01:08Why is shoveling so often dangerous and even deadly?

01:13And who is at cardiovascular risk?

01:17So shoveling is major physical exertion,

01:19and it comes at a time where for many people,

01:22they've been sedentary in front of their computers

01:24or in front of the TV going out

01:26and actually shoveling snow.

01:28So there is a major amount of exercise and stress,

01:31both emotional and physical, that's put on the body.

01:34And that's gonna lead to, again, in the cold,

01:38the problems of elevated heart rate and blood pressure.

01:40Also, blood will tend to pool in the lower extremities

01:43because you're upright,

01:45and that's gonna decrease the amount of oxygen

01:46getting back to the heart,

01:48and that's vital to the issues of oxygenation

01:52for vital organs.

01:55And also to the heart and to the brain.

01:56So shoveling is a major, major exercise,

02:00and a significant amount of stress to the body

02:02that comes at a time

02:03that people aren't really prepared for it.

02:06So what can we do?

02:07What are some tips to help protect yourself?

02:08And what should you do if you start to feel

02:10any kind of chest pain or shortness of breath

02:12or any other symptoms?

02:14That's a great question.

02:15Number one, think about what your overall risk

02:18from a heart standpoint is going to be

02:20when you walk out the door and pick up that shovel.

02:22For middle-aged and older individuals,

02:24be very thoughtful about whether this is an activity

02:27you should be doing.

02:28There's an opportunity to actually allow

02:31folks in the neighborhood who actually may be a bit younger

02:34and actually may be more,

02:36from an exercise standpoint, in better shape,

02:38may be able to do this activity for you.

02:40Also, instead of shoveling, get a snowblower

02:43if you've got to do it yourself.

02:45It's still some degree of exertion,

02:47but less stress and strain on you.

02:49And if you've got to use that shovel,

02:51don't so much lift that snow,

02:52but actually try to push it around

02:54and take frequent breaks during that particular time

02:57and make sure that you are wearing the appropriate apparel

03:00when you walk out the side of the doors

03:01that you stay warm,

03:03so that you are putting a greater degree of stress

03:05on your body by actually embracing that cold.

03:09Dr. Keith Churchwell, with some excellent information

03:13to keep everybody safe,

03:14thank you for joining us,

03:16and you stay warm over the next couple of days as well.

03:19I'm gonna give it my best shot.

03:21Take care.

03:22Okay, good to talk with you, sir.

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